Rail-fastener.



No. 821,841 BATENTED MAY 29, 190e. W.G".T 0WBR.

' RAIL PASTBNBR.

APPLICATION FILED DISCHI, 1906.

W L /W/ l WITNESSES.-

WILLIAM eRANT'rownR, or coIIoNA, cALIroRNIA.-

. l amuseer-enen.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29. 1906. l

Application filed December 1905. Serial No. 290,257.

vTo m1/f whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, WILLIAM GRANT TOWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corona, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented `a new and useful Rail-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-fasteners, and has for an object to provide a fastener embodying new and improved features of durability, reliability, and efficiency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-fastener embodying improved means to prevent lateral and torsional movements of the rails, but to permit the longitudinal movement resulting froml contraction and expansion.

A further object of the invention it to provide improved means for preventing the displacement of the spikes from the ties.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and Ininor details may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the improved rail-fastener. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved fastener'. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the tieplato. Flg. 4 Is a perspective view oi the keeper. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the roller-disk. l i

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the iigures of the drawings.

In its preferred embodiment the improved rail-fastener forming the subject-matter of this application comprises a tie-plate 10, having longitudinally-parallel ribs 11 and 12 spaced to accommodate a rail, as 13, therebetween. Within the'surface of the tieplate eontacting with or seating the rail are formed the grooves 14 and 15, joining to form wider grooves 16,- cutting the ribs, and with spike openings 17 within the limits of the grooves. Upon the tops of the basellauges 1S and 19 are disposed the roller-disks 20,V having central openings 21 proportioned to receive and be pivoted upon spikes, as 22, with the heads 23 bearing upon the upper surfaces of the disks and'with axial bosses 24 bent over and bearing upon the upper surfaces of` the heads 23 oi the spikes. The

keepers are constructed of resilient material and are retained to seat by their own resiliency and the weight of the track and passing trains.

In operation the rails will be laid upon the plates and gaged in the usual manner. Spikes are then inserted through the axial openings of the rollers and driven through the spikeopenings of the plate in such position that the disk of the roller bears upon the top and the boss upon the edge of the base-flange and the spike-head upon the disk. The keeper 25 is then entered in the slots and 'driven home with the end 27 extending over and bearing upon the spike-head and the fingers forcibly clamped between the rail and plate.

It will be obvious that the roller constructed and applied as described and shown will hold the rail iirmly against lateral or torsional displacement, but will 'move rotatively upon the spikes to permit the usual expansion and contraction.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A rail-fastener comprising a tie-plate provided with a spike-opening and a groove adjacent the opening and a keeper proportioned to be seated in the groove beneath a rail and to extend over and bear upon the head of a spike.

2. A rail-fastener comprising a tie-plate provided with a groove in its rail-receiving surface and with a spike-opening within the proportioned to be Seated within the groove and to embrace the shank oi a spike and to extend over and bear upon the top o i the spike.

3. A rail-fastener comprising an annular disk proportioned to bear upon the top ofthe base-flange oi a rail and provided with concentric means to bear against the edge of the flange and means to pivot the disk to a tie.

4. A rail-fastener comprising a rotatable limits ol' the groove and a bifurcated keeper roo IOS

disk provided with a central opening and with a laterally-extending boss about the opening and proportioned to be pivoted adjacent a rail with the disk engaging the upper IIO Surface and the boss engaging the edge of the base-ange said disk adapted to be rotated by the expansion or contraction of the rail.

5. A rail-fastener comprising a fastening for penetrating the tie and a roller centrally pivoted upon the fastening and engaging the ase-ange of the rail.

6. A rail-fastener ,comprising a pivot rigidly secured adjacent the rail and a rotatable disk mounted at .its center upon the pivot and engaging the top and having a boss engaging the edge ofthe base-flange said disk 'adapted to be rotated by the expansion or contraction of the rail;

7. A rail-fastener comprising a tieplate provided with rail-engaging ribs, a roller pivoted upon the plate and engaging the top and edge of the base-fiange 8. A rail -fastener comprising a tieplate, a roller engaging the top and edge ol the baselange and means to pivot the roller upon. the plate and the plate upon a tie.

9. A rail-fastener comprising a tie-plate provided with a spike-opening, a roller engaging the top and edge of the base-Mange and a fastening proportioned for insertion through the plate-opening and to penetrate a tie and to pivot the roller in operative position.

l0. A rail-fastener comprising a tie-plate provided with a groove Within the rail-en i spike-openings Within the limits of the grooves7 a disk bearing upon the topl of the base-flange' and having an axial spike-receive ing o emng, a boss formed upon the face of the isk and about the axial opening and proportioned to bear against the edge of the hase-flange, a bifurcated keeper proportioned m to embrace the shank of a spike and loe seated in the groove and with the'outer end' bent to extend over and bear upon the head oi' a spike.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM GRANT TOWER. Witnesses:

W. P. BRYANT,

INEZ E. BAKER. 

